Match Report
A mixed bag of emotions at Alliance Park as Clydebank almost certainly dropped two points rather than gained one against free-scoring Caley Braves in a two-all draw. Last season, the Bankies were hammered 4-1 at this venue and we were expecting an equally tough encounter this time around. To have led twice, only to be pegged back by stoppage-time equalisers at the end of both halves, was hard to take. The deserved red card for Blair Rossiter meant we endured a tough final ten minutes when we should already have been home and dry.
The Bankies were utterly dominant in the first half-hour of this game and should have had more than one goal to show for our efforts. The goal was a nice side-footed shot from Oisin McHugh after his first effort was blocked by a defender.
Earlier, McLaughlin was unlucky to see his prodded attempt rebound off the inside of the post, keeper Connelly produced a fine save from a Samson header, and Niven saw his glancing header skip just wide of the upright. There were a myriad of other opportunities that should have been capitalised upon to ensure a cushion of a lead.
Nobody is going to Alliance Park and having it all their own way. As the first half drew to a close, the Braves were starting to impress themselves on the game, and all the Bankies’ hard work was undone in one moment in stoppage time. A corner from the left saw Dean Watson out jump Jimmy Grant at the back post and power a header past Stott. The goal was disconcerting enough, but there was a free man behind Watson if the ball had carried through. For the first time in a long while, the defence looks vulnerable at set pieces, and this frailty would cost us in the end.
The Braves began the second half with renewed vigour, but it was the Bankies who once more had the chances to restore the lead. Samson should have scored when he pounced on a poor defensive header, but Connelly rescued his team. When Connelly couldn’t save the ball, his defenders did the job instead, as a McLaughlin header from a Rossiter corner was cleared off the line.
The goal finally did come for the Bankies, and it was a great left-footed strike by Dean Cairns from the edge of the box, as he beat two defenders to a loose ball. The Bankies looked comfortable enough after this and you felt confident they could manage the game to its conclusion, despite a snapshot out of the blue that came back off the post with Stott beaten.
Then came Rossiter’s moment of madness in the 81st minute. The game had been quite a physical tussle, with a lot of niggles and afters. This had obviously got the better of Rossiter, and he flew in recklessly on Guthrie. Although the Braves midfielder evaded the tackle, the intent meant there was only going to be one outcome.
With ten men, the Bankies were put under a great deal of pressure, but we looked like we were going to handle it until an unnecessary free-kick was given away on the right-hand side of the pitch around 30 yards from goal. The cross was delivered deep to the back post, and Grant’s attempt to connect with the ball for a clearance failed. Sula came charging in, with his marker Matt Niven trailing sadly behind, and the big defender swept the ball into the net to end the game on a real downer for the Bankies.
The Bankies have dropped five points away from home against arguably the two hardest away venues in the league. Last season we lost both games, so this is a minor improvement, and I’m really reaching here. Nothing has been won or lost at this stage of the season, but one or two of our rivals are laying down markers, and not just winning but winning big. We don’t look anywhere near as settled as we have done over the last few seasons, particularly at the back, though we also need to improve our chance conversion.
We have a lot of midweek games in the next six weeks which will severely test the squad, but this is the price of success. We have to knuckle down, get some wins on the board, and make sure that we are still in the title race come Christmas when the schedule eases in the second half of the season.
That starts at home to Gretna this Saturday.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
